Head of supreme council says Nouri al-Maliki’s State of Law group is likely victor based on preliminary results The political grouping headed by Iraq’s prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki, today began preparing negotiations for a new coalition government after edging ahead in the latest counts of Sunday’s general election. The poll’s outcome is still unclear but Maliki’s State of Law group is growing in confidence after preliminary results gave it victory in at least two southern provinces. Only partial counts have been released from six of Iraq’s 18 provinces, excluding Baghdad

How the British National party’s whites-only rules came to be judged unlawful Today’s ruling that the British National party’s membership policy is unlawful was the result of the Equality and Human Rights Commission challenging the party over possible breaches of anti-discrimination law. The commission wrote to the party leader, Nick Griffin, in June outlining concerns over its whites-only rules. It asked for undertakings that the party would not discriminate on the grounds of race or colour and would comply with the Race Relations Act 1976 .

Judge agrees with human rights watchdog that British National party’s rewritten criteria for joining are still racist The British National party (BNP) has been barred from taking new members after a judge ruled today that its constitution could discriminate against non-white people. Judge Paul Collins issued an injunction ordering the far-right group to comply with race equality laws, adding that “the membership list will have to be closed until then”

Animals at Shenyang Forest zoo reportedly starved to death after being fed only chicken bones Eleven rare Siberian tigers, starving and kept in small cages, have died at a cash-strapped zoo in China, heightening concerns about conditions at wildlife facilities in the country. The deaths of the tigers occurred in the past three months at the zoo based in the cold north-east. Reports said the tigers starved to death, having been fed only chicken bones

Government tells residents to leave battle zone as al-Shabaab militia takes positions near presidential palace Somalia was today embroiled in some of its fiercest fighting for nearly a year as government troops shelled advancing rebels in the capital, Mogadishu. The Islamist militia group al-Shabaab attacked government positions near the president’s palace and four people were killed by return fire, witnesses said. The violence erupted in the Wardhigley district in the early hours, the third day of battles between the insurgents and government forces backed by African Union troops.

Party leader accuses education officials of taking no action against teachers promoting leftwing politics The British National party (BNP) has accused local education authorities of taking no action against “leftwing teachers … promoting their own politically correct brand of politics” as it welcomed ministers’ decision not to ban BNP members from the profession

Dr Rowan Williams adds voice to growing criticism of scheme to build nearly 2,000 homes on occupied territory The archbishop of Canterbury has waded into the row over Israeli plans to build hundreds of homes on occupied territory, saying the proposals left him feeling “baffled and angry”. Rowan Williams told an audience in London that although he believed the Israeli state had a right to exist, he had yet to hear a legal defence of settlement construction

At least 39 killed and 95 wounded in suicide blasts which appeared to target Pakistani military Twin blasts rocked Lahore today, hitting a high-security military district and killing at least 39 people. Unconfirmed reports put the death toll at up to 50, while more than 95 people were injured.

British Airways cabin crew to hold two weekend walkouts in March over staff cuts, Unite says • How would the strike affect you? British Airways cabin crew will stage a series of strikes over two consecutive weekends this month, beginning with a three-day walkout on 20 March and followed by a four-day action from 27 March. The first strikes by BA cabin crew in nearly 13 years have been called by the Unite trade union after a breakdown in talks over staffing cuts.

Catholic prelate says priests and deacons should keep sermons brief and maintain eye contact to keep flock well-tended The book of Genesis says God created the heavens and Earth in less than a week. Now, Catholic clergy are being asked to follow suit and keep their sermons to under eight minutes in a recommendation issued from the Vatican. Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, the secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, says homilies should be brief to cater for people with short attention spans